Truss reinforcement system

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and system for supporting a plurality of parallel spaced apart trusses, each truss having top and bottom member each having an inside and an outside edge wherein the top member is angularly oriented relative to the bottom member. The apparatus comprises a body having a truss engaging slot adapted to engageably receive a top or bottom member of the truss therethrough and first and second brace engaging panels extending substantially perpendicularly to the slot. Each brace engaging panel is adapted to engageably receive a braces thereagainst wherein each brace extending angularly between adjacent trusses. The system comprises top and bottom brackets on the top and bottom member of the truss and at least one brace member extending therebetween.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to structural reinforcement in general and in particular to a method, system and apparatus for reinforcing adjacent roof trusses to each other.

2. Description of Related Art

In the field of construction, it is often desirable to make a structure as strong as possible. The strength of a building is desirable for the purposes of load bearing ability as well as resistance to outside loads such as earthquakes, wind and other environmental loading.

In particular, roof construction is commonly formed of a plurality of planar trusses formed of wood metal or the like. One difficulty of such construction types is that the planar trusses, although strong in supporting vertical loads are relatively weak in resisting horizontal or shear loads by comparison.

Conventional methods of reinforcing trusses have not been adequate to resolve the above difficulties. Commonly, a sheathing or decking material, such as plywood is applied over the trusses to provide additional rigidity to such a structure. The use of decking material to provide needed strength for roof joists, although assisting with resisting forces to alter spacing between the trusses, does not provide a substantial degree of resistance to lateral loads such as experienced during some natural disasters, such as, earthquakes or windstorms.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first embodiment of the present invention there is disclosed an apparatus for supporting a plurality of parallel spaced apart trusses, each truss having top and bottom member each having an inside and an outside edge wherein the top member is angularly oriented relative to the bottom member. The apparatus comprises a body having a truss engaging slot adapted to engageably receive a top or bottom member of the truss therethrough and first and second brace engaging panels extending substantially perpendicularly to the slot. Each brace engaging panel is adapted to engageably receive a braces thereagainst wherein each brace extending angularly between adjacent trusses.

The first and second brace engaging panels may extend along planes parallel to the braces. The body may include tabs extending perpendicularly therefrom adjacent to the slot, the tabs being fastenable to a top or bottom member of the truss located in the slot.

The truss engaging slot may receive an outside edge of one the top or bottom members of the truss. The truss engaging slot may receive the inside edge of one of the top or bottom members of the truss. The slot may have a width corresponding to the truss.

The body may be formed of a pair of parallel spaced apart body plates. The body plates may be spaced apart by a distance corresponding to the braces. The body plates may include inner and outer walls extending between distal edges thereof. The inner and outer walls may be substantially aligned with the braces. The at least one of the body plates may include the brace engaging panels. The body plates, end walls and inner walls may define sockets sized to receive the braces therein. The body plates, end walls and inner walls may comprise a unitary folded sheet of material.

The apparatus may further comprise a cover plate alignable with the body to retain the braces therebetween. The cover plate may include a cover plate slot corresponding to the slot in the body adapted to engageably receive a top or bottom member of the truss. The at least one of the body or the cover plate may include flanges extending from edges thereof in a direction towards the other of the body or the cover plate. The body, cover plate and flanges may define sockets sized to receive the braces therein.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention there is disclosed a system for supporting a plurality of parallel spaced apart trusses, each truss having top and bottom member each having an inside and an outside edge wherein the top member is angularly oriented relative to the bottom member. The system comprises at least one top bracket adapted to engage a top member of the trusses and at least one bottom bracket adapted to engage a bottom member of the trusses. Each of the top and bottom brackets comprising a body having a truss engaging slot adapted to engageably receive the top or bottom member of the truss therethrough and first and second brace engaging panels extending substantially perpendicularly to the slot. The system further includes at least one brace member extending between the at least one top bracket and at least one bottom bracket.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention there is disclosed a blank for forming a bracket for supporting a plurality of parallel spaced apart trusses, each truss having top and bottom member each having an inside and an outside edge wherein the top member is angularly oriented relative to the bottom member. The blank comprises a sheet of material having first and second substantially triangular panel portions, a rectangular potion between corresponding edges of the first and second triangular portions and notches located through each of the first and second triangular panel portions at corners adjacent to the rectangular portion. The notches are positioned so as to co-operate to form a common slot through the bracket when the blank is folded along lines between the first and second panel portions and the rectangular portion such that the first and second panel portions are substantially parallel with each other.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention there is disclosed a method for supporting a plurality of parallel spaced apart trusses, each truss having top and bottom member each having an inside and an outside edge wherein the top member is angularly oriented relative to the bottom member. The method comprises engaging a top bracket upon a top member of the truss, engaging a bottom bracket upon a bottom member of and adjacent truss and engaging a brace between the top and bottom brackets.

Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention wherein similar characters of reference denote corresponding parts in each view,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a plurality of trusses having a reinforcing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention located therebetween.

FIG. 2 is a front exploded perspective view of a top bracket for use in the system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a cut sheet useful for forming the top bracket of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a front exploded perspective view of a bottom bracket for use in the system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a cut sheet useful for forming the bottom bracket of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of a top bracket for use in the system of FIG. 1 according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a cut sheet useful for forming the top bracket of FIG. 6 according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of a top bracket for use in the system of FIG. 1 according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a cut sheet useful for forming the top bracket of FIG. 7 according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a front exploded perspective view of a top bracket for use in the system of FIG. 1 according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a cut sheet useful for forming the top bracket of FIG. 10 according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of a cut sheet useful for forming the top bracket cover plate of FIG. 10 according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a front exploded perspective view of a bottom bracket for use in the system of FIG. 1 according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a plan view of a cut sheet useful for forming the bottom bracket of FIG. 13 according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a plan view of a cut sheet useful for forming the bottom bracket cover plate of FIG. 13 according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a cross sectional view of the top bracket of FIG. 2 as taken along the line 2-2.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a truss having a reinforcing system according to a further embodiment of the present invention located thereon.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of two trusses having a reinforcing system according to a further embodiment of the present invention located therebetween.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a system for stabilizing adjacent roof trusses 10 according to a first embodiment of the invention is shown generally at 20. Each roof truss 10 extends between top and bottom edges 12 and 14 and may be formed of a top sloped member 16 and a bottom substantially horizontal member 18. The truss 10 may be of any known type and may include top and bottom members 16 and 18 formed of any commonly utilized material such as, dimensioned lumber, laminated wood, oriented strand board, composite materials, engineered wood products or metal. The top member 16 includes the top edge 12 and an inside edge 13. The bottom member 18 includes the bottom edge 14 of the truss and an inside edge 15 thereof. The system 20 comprises a plurality of top brackets 22 engaged upon the top member and a plurality of bottom brackets 23 engaged upon the bottom members with braces 80 extending therebetween.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 4, a top bracket, 22 is illustrated in FIG. 2 and a bottom bracket 23 is illustrated in FIG. 4. Each bracket 22 and 23 comprises a body 24 having a truss engaging slot 26 extending therethrough and first and second brace engaging sleeves 28 and 30, respectively. The slot 26 is sized to have a width sufficient to receive and closely engage the top member 16 therein. Optionally the body 24 may include one or more flaps, 32 and 34 extending therefrom adjacent to the slot 26 so as to extend along the top member 16. The flaps include top edges 33 and 34 which, for the top bracket 22 are angled relative to the horizontal, by a top angle generally indicated at 39 and 37, respectively. The top angles 37 and 39 are selected to correspond to the slope of the roof at the location of top bracket 22. It will be appreciated that lower height flaps 32 and 34 may also be utilized as well as flaps having top angles 37 and 39 less than the slope of the roof. Additionally, although each of the top angles 37 and 39 are illustrated as being in a same direction, they may be angled in opposite directions so as to permit the bracket to be in either direction on the truss.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the slot may be substantially open on the top end thereof, 36 or may optionally include retaining flaps, 38 and 40, respectively extending from the flaps 32 and 34 so as to overlay and retain the top member 16 within the slot 26 as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 for a top bracket 22 and FIGS. 8 and 9 for a bottom bracket 23. As illustrated herein, the slot 26 extends through the bracket 22 or 23 so as to align the first and second body plates 42 and 44 substantially perpendicular to the truss member located within the slot 26. In such a manner, the system 20 will extend along the plurality of trusses at a location common to each truss.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the body 24 may comprise first and second body plates, 42 and 44, respectively in parallel spaced apart relation to each other. The first and second body plates 42 and 44 are spaced apart by a gap distance, generally indicated at 43, corresponding to the width of the brace 80 so as to slidably receive the brace therebetween. The first and second body plates 42 and 44 are spaced apart from each other by first and second outside panels, 46 and 48, respectively and first and second inside panels, 50 and 52, respectively. At least one of the first and second body panels 42 and 44 also includes first and second brace engaging portions or panels, generally indicated at 54 and 56 respectively. The brace engaging panels 54 and 56 have a substantially rectangular shape corresponding to the size of the braces. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the first and second outside panels 46 and 48 and first and second inside panels 50 and 52 extend from the edges of the first and second brace engaging panels 54 and 56. In some embodiments, such as illustrated in FIG. 2, the panels 46, 48, 50 and 52 may extend from one of the first or second body plates to the other of the first or second body plates however one or more of the panels 46, 48, 50 and 52 may also extend only a portion of the distance therebetween as well.

The panels 46, 48, 50 and 52 in conjunction with the first and second body plates 42 and 44 form the first and second sleeves 28 and 30 for receiving the braces 80 as illustrated in FIG. 16. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 through 5, the first outside panel 46 may extend from the second body plate 44 and the first body plate 42 may include a corresponding extension panel 58 extending therefrom which is located proximate to the bottom of the first body panel. The extension panel 58 is located so as to engage with a bottom edge of the first outside panel 46 such so as to present a continuous surface between the two panels as well as facilitate alignment. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, the first and second sockets 28 and 30 are angularly oriented relative to the slot 26, by a brace angle 60 in a direction generally away from the open end of the slot 26 so as to permit the braces 80 to extend diagonally between the trusses 10. In such a way, each brace will extend from a top bracket 22 of one truss to a bottom bracket 23 of an adjacent truss as illustrated in FIG. 1 thereby interconnecting each truss to each other. The brace angle 60 will be selected according to known methods depending upon the height of the trusses as the desired location of the apparatus 20 as well as the spacing between the trusses and the dimensions of the intended braces 80. By way of non-limiting example, this brace angle may be selected to be between 0 and 90 degrees. Optionally, the brace angle 60 may also be selected to permit the braces 80 to extend between a trusses which are not adjacent to each other, but rather to a truss which is spaced apart therefrom with one or more intervening trusses therebetween for applications requiring less strength. Additionally, brace angle may be selected to be 0 degrees to permit the brace 80 to extend between the top and bottom members 16 and 18 of the same truss 10 as illustrated in FIG. 17 or selected to be 90 degrees to permit the brace to extend between two top members or between two bottom members as illustrated in FIG. 18.

The top bracket 22, as well as the bottom bracket 23 may be formed of any suitable material, such as, by way of non-limiting example, metal, plastic, composite materials or the like. The top and bottom brackets 22 and 23 may be formed or constructed by any known process, such as, by way of non-limiting example, injection moulding, connecting a plurality of separate panels together by any suitable method, such as, by way of non-limiting example, adhesives, fasteners, welding, braising, or the like. The top and bottom brackets 22 and 23 may also optionally be formed of a sheet of material, such as, by way of non-limiting example, steel, stainless steel or aluminium and bend or folded in to the desired shape. Any thickness of metal as required to provide the necessary strength may be utilized such as between 12 and 22 gauge. In particular, it has been found that sheet metal of between 16 and 20 gauge has been useful.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 5, blanks 70 for use in forming the top and bottom brackets 22 and 23, respectively are illustrated having each of the first and second body plate 42 and 44, first and second flaps 32 and 34, first and second outside panels 46 and 48, first and second inside panels 50 and 52 and first and second retaining flaps 38 and 40 and extension panel 58 formed from a common sheet of material. The blank 70 may then be bent along bend lines 72 of the blank 70 wherein the solid lines indicate cut lines and dashed lines indicate cut lines to form the blank into the shape as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4 respectively.

The braces 80 may be formed of any suitable elongate rigid material, such as, by way of non-limiting example, wood, metal, plastic or composite materials.

In particular, it has been found useful to form the braces 80 of dimension lumber such as, by way of non-limiting example, 4×2 s, 2×3 s or the like. In such a manner, the braces 80 may be cut to the desired length to extend between the top and bottom braces 22 and 23.

In operation, a user places a bottom bracket 23 on the inside of a bottom member 18 of a truss 10 such that the bottom member 18 is located within the slot 26 of the bottom bracket. The user then cuts or otherwise selects a brace of suitable size and length to extend between the desired top and bottom braces and inserts the bracket into one of the first or second sleeves 28 or 30. The user then locates a top bracket 22 on other end of the brace and slides or otherwise inserts the top bracket 22 into contact with the top member 16 such that the top member is located within the slot 26 of the top bracket. The user then continues in a similar fashion to connect each bottom bracket to an adjacent top bracket to thereby support the trusses to resist any loads placed thereupon. For embodiments including retaining flaps 38 and 40, such retaining flaps may be left in an open position during location on the trusses and thereafter bend downward to engage the truss member and retain it within the slot 26. It will be appreciated that the embodiments not including retaining flaps may be particularly useful for retrofitting existing buildings where a sheathing layer is already installed over the trusses thereby limiting access to the top and bottom edges 12 and 14 of the trusses. Similarly, embodiments utilizing retaining flaps 38 and 40 may be suitable for use in new construction such that the system may be located between the trusses 10 before installation of such sheathing layer. Fasteners 64 as illustrated in FIG. 16, such as, by way of non-limiting example, nails, bolts, screws or the like may then be passed through one or more of a plurality of fastener bores 62 located in any of first and second body plates 42 and 44, first and second flaps 32 and 34, first and second outside panels 46 and 48, first and second inside panels 50 and 52 and first and second retaining flaps 38 and 40 and extension panel 58 to secure the top or bottom bracket 22 or 23 to the top or bottom member 16 or 18 and/or to the braces 80.

Turning now to FIGS. 10 through 15, an alternative embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in which each of the top and bottom brackets 22 and 23 are formed of a first and second body, 100 and 120, respectively. The first body 100 comprises a body of material having a slot 102 formed between first and second slot side panels, 104 and 106, respectively and a bridging panel 108 extending therebetween. Each of the first and second side panels includes a brace engaging panel 108 extending therefrom. The brace engaging panels 110 extend from the first and second side panels 104 and 106 in a direction generally towards the open end of the slot 102 by an brace angle 60 as described above. One or more of the first and second side panels 104 and 106, bridging panel 108 and brace engaging panels 108 may include fastener bores 62 as described above.

The second body 120 comprises a body of material having a slot 122 formed between first and second slot side panels, 124 and 126, respectively and a bridging panel 128 extending therebetween. The slot 122 is sized to correspond to the size of the top or bottom member 16 or 18 to which the apparatus is to be applied. In addition, for the top brace 22, each bridging panel is oriented angularly relative to the horizontal by a slope angle 98 corresponding to the slope of the top member 16 of the truss 10. Each of the first and second side panels includes a brace engaging panel 130 extending therefrom. The brace engaging panels 130 extend from the first and second side panels 124 and 126 in a direction generally towards the open end of the slot 122 by an brace angle 60 as described above and include top and bottom side flaps, 132 and 134, respectively. The brace engaging panels 130 and top and bottom flaps 132 and 134 are sized to correspond to the size and shape of the brace 80 such that when a brace 80 is located between the top and bottom flaps 132 and 134 of the second body 120, the first body may then be positioned proximate thereto such that the top and bottom flaps 132 and 134 and brace engaging panels 110 and 130 form a sleeve in which the brace is retained. One or more of the first and second side panels 124 and 126, bridging panel 128, brace engaging panels 130 and top and bottom flaps 132 may include fastener bores 62 as described above.

Turning now to FIGS. 11, 12, 14 and 15, blanks for use in forming the first and second members are illustrated. In particular FIG. 11 illustrates a blank 140 for forming a second body 120 of a top brace 22, FIG. 12 illustrates a blank 142 for forming a first body 102 of a top brace 22, FIG. 14 illustrates a blank 144 for forming a second body 120 of a bottom brace 22 and FIG. 15 illustrates a blank 146 for forming a first body 102 of a bottom brace 22. In each of these In each case, the blank may cut to the illustrated shape and then be bent along bend lines 148 of the blank wherein the solid lines indicate cut lines and dashed lines indicate cut lines to form the blank into the shape as illustrated in FIGS. 11, 12, 14 and 15.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, such embodiments should be considered illustrative of the invention only and not as limiting the invention as construed in accordance with the accompanying claims. 

1. An apparatus for supporting a plurality of parallel spaced apart trusses, each truss having top and bottom member each having an inside and an outside edge wherein said top member is angularly oriented relative to said bottom member, the apparatus comprising a body formed of first and second brace engaging panels each having a truss engaging slot adapted to engagably receive one of a top or bottom member of said truss extending thereacross, each of said first and second brace engaging panels being adapted to engageably receive a braces thereagainst, each brace extending angularly between adjacent trusses.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first and second brace engaging panels being adapted to extend along planes parallel to said braces.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said body includes tabs extending perpendicularly therefrom adjacent to said slot, said tabs being fastenable to a top or bottom member of said truss located in said slot.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said truss engaging slot is adapted to receive an outside edge of one said top or bottom members of said truss.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said truss engaging slot is adapted to receive said inside edge of one of said top or bottom members of said truss.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said slot has a width being adapted to corresponding to said truss.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said body is formed of a pair of parallel spaced apart body plates.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said body plates are spaced apart by a distance being adapted to corresponding to said braces.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said body plates include inner and outer walls extending between distal edges thereof.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said inner and outer walls are substantially aligned with said braces.
 11. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein at least one of said body plates includes said brace engaging panels.
 12. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said body plates and inner and outer walls define sockets sized to receive said braces therein.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said body plates and inner and outer walls comprise a unitary folded sheet of material.
 14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second brace engaging panel is removably alignable with said first brace engaging panel to retain said braces therebetween.
 15. (canceled)
 16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein at least one of said first and second brace engaging panels includes flanges extending from edges thereof in a direction towards the other of said first and second brace engaging panels.
 17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said first and second brace engaging panels and flanges define sockets sized to receive said braces therein.
 18. A system for supporting a plurality of parallel spaced apart trusses, each truss having top and bottom member each having an inside and an outside edge wherein said top member is angularly oriented relative to said bottom member, comprising: at least one top bracket adapted to engage a top member of said trusses; at least one bottom bracket adapted to engage a bottom member of said trusses, each of said top and bottom brackets comprising a body formed of first and second brace engaging panels each having a truss engaging slot adapted to engagably receive one of said top or bottom member of said truss extending thereacross; and at least one brace member extending between said at least one top bracket and at least one bottom bracket.
 19. An blank for forming a bracket for supporting a plurality of parallel spaced apart trusses, each truss having top and bottom member each having an inside and an outside edge wherein said top member is angularly oriented relative to said bottom member, the blank comprising: a sheet of material having: first and second brace engaging panels; a side panel between corresponding edges of said first and brace engaging panels; and notches located through each of said first and second brace engaging panels at corners adjacent to said side panel and positioned so as to co-operate to form a common slot through said bracket when said blank is folded along lines between said first and second brace engaging panels and said side panel such that said first and second brace engaging panels are substantially parallel with each other wherein said slot is adapted to engagably receive one of said top or bottom member of said truss extending thereacross.
 20. A method for supporting a plurality of parallel spaced apart trusses, each truss having top and bottom member each having an inside and an outside edge wherein said top member is angularly oriented relative to said bottom member, the method comprising: engaging a top bracket formed of first and second brace engaging panels each having a truss engaging slot upon a top member of said truss such that said truss is received within said slots across said first and second brace engaging panels; engaging a bottom bracket formed of first and second brace engaging panels each having a truss engaging slot upon a bottom member of and adjacent truss such that said truss is received within said slots across said first and second brace engaging panels; and engaging a brace between said first and second brace engaging panels each having a truss engaging slot said top and bottom brackets. 